Chapter 195
Jojo:
I didn’t know when I screamed at the top of my voice. I threw my hands in the air and I shouted so loud that the hotel security had to step in to see if something was wrong. Tears burned the back of my eyes and scorched my eyelids. But they were not tears of pain, they were tears of overflowing joy.
I never saw any of this coming, not in a million years. The room was lit up with bright white lights, silver chandeliers and scented candles all over the room. Everyone I loved and knew stood in front of me dressed in their best attire. I caught sight of Zelda, Hadley and Ashley standing at the distal end of the crowd. Even my mother was dressed in an all white dress that made her look so beautiful that my tears started to flow my from my eyes.
Thank the goddess for waterproof mascara. I turned to Mel and found her smiling at me with her hands folded underneath her chest. She stared at me with bright eyes, I couldn’t begin to thank her for putting all of this together. What was I going to say? How was I going to start?
Even as I finally opened my mouth to speak, tears began to run down my eyes instead. Mel blinked twice, I could tell that she was fighting her tears. Everyone in the room made cute noises at the both of us before they started the chorus.
“Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, dear Jojo! Happy birthday to you!”
By this time, I was already in Mel’s arms, crying my eyes out. She tapped the back of my head gently while she continuously sniffed in her tears.
“You’re running the makeup I spent three hours applying on you.” She whimpered, her tears were beginning to choke her voice.
I muffled a laugh and sniffed in my tears.
You should have told me you were about to make me cry. How was I supposed to handle all of this? It’s too much, Mel. It’s far too much. You didn’t have to do all this. I don’t deserve it.” I cried out. She listened to me in silence and didn’t speak until I broke into another round of tears.
“Clearly, the alpha didn’t think so.” She said. The title rang a bell in my ears. I pulled out of the embrace and glared at her, a silent warning that I didn’t take such jokes lightly, not anymore.
I mean, why would the alpha go through the stress of putting all of this up for me when he had a pack to run and more exciting responsibilities to fulfill?
As if she heard my question, she flashed me a teasing smile.
“I’m not joking, Jojo. The alpha did all of this for you. It was all him, not one of us. We did help him with a few things here and there, but he came up with the idea and supervised everything. He did this for you, Jojo. I don’t know if it counts for anything, but I hope that it does.”
The genuine smile in her eyes and the care in her voice caused my heart to melt. I turned away from her and looked into the crowd. It was hard to believe all these import people were to celebrate me. I mean, few months ago I was a complete nobody. Now, I was just a mother, a sister, a daughter and a best friend who was trying to survive.
Everyone took turns in embracing me and wishing me a happy birthday. On a long and rectangular table at the distal end of the room were a lot of gift boxes. Some of them were wrapped, while others were tied up with cute ribbons. I was really happy to see Zelda and Hadley. Zita did not come even though she was invited – according to the girls. But that didn’t bother me. What mattered to me was that the people who loved me and the people that I loved were all here with me.
Even beta Kenji and gamma Bec walked up to me and placed courtesy kisses on both my cheeks. I met Kenji’s parents for the first time and I got to realize how lovely they were. It also made wonder about he and Ashley, but I knew they were grown adults and would be able to fix their issues soon.
After everyone present in the room had wished me a happy birthday, I turned my back to find the alpha standing behind me.
I couldn’t breathe for the first ten seconds. He stood clad in a matching green tuxedo and a sharp green bowtie. He held Valerie in his right hand as she stood beside me, while he spooned Lucian in his left.
I couldn’t stop the smile that carved up on my lips. This was too much, way too much. Looking at him hold and protect the people dear to me, I realized that he would always be there for me. In that moment, I knew that if the need arose, alpha Lake would take a bullet for our son, for me. He would lay down his life for the things that mattered to me because they mattered to him too.
Once again, I admitted to myself that I was hopelessly in love with him.
Valerie broke out of his hold and rushed to embrace me.
“Happy birthday Jo! You’re the best big sister in the whole wide world!” She hugged me as she screamed. I laughed and lowered my head to place a soft kiss on her forehead.
“Thanks Ley. And you’re the best little sister in the entire galaxy.” I replied. From the corner of my eyes, I saw Mrs Smith request to hold Lucian. Alpha Lake handed our baby to his mother and Mrs Smith flashed me a smile as she called Valerie to follow her.
When the three of them were gone and it was just the alpha and I, he smiled at me. I swallowed hard, my nerves were starting to get the better of me as he closed the gap between us.
“Happy birthday, Jojo.” He started to speak. I was so speechless, but I knew I couldn’t just stare at him.
“Alpha Lake, you didn’t have to do all this, really. I am really grateful, but I… I don’t deserve all of it. I really don’t.”
He stretched his right hand out to me.
“Come with me, please.”
I looked down at his hand, then up at his face again. I slowly placed my hand into his, and I shuddered when his warm fingers intertwined with my cold and lean ones. We walked through the crowd of people enjoying the refreshments and music, but it felt to me as though we were the only ones in the room. I couldn’t feel the presence of any other person besides him.
He led me outside the hall and into the balcony. By the goddess, I thought I was going to faint at the beauty of the sight in front of me. The walls and rails were decorated with lilies, my two favorite kinds at that! It was so beautiful. The sky, the flowers, the scent of the flowers, his eyes as he looked down at me, everything.
“Look at the sky, Jojo.” He spoke softly.
It was hard to take my eyes off him, but I did as he asked. I could feel my heart start to melt in my chest as I stared at the sky filled with stars.
“Like the stars light up the sky, that is the same way you light up my life, Jojo Wyatt.” His soft tone caused me to look down at him.
His onyx orbs sparkled underneath the sickle shaped moon.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.
“I do not know this happened, and I just admit that I am not accustomed to feeling this way, but I have loved you for a very long time, Jojo Wyatt. I do not know if it was the night I first saw you, if it was one of the many times I watched you dance, if it was after I had lost you, or after I found you again, but I know that my heart knew way before I did. But now that I know, I do not intend to let go of you. I love you, Jojo Wyatt. And intend to keep doing so for the rest of my life. I know that I am not a perfect man, but I promise that if you give me a chance, I would try to be everything you need me to be. I would strive for our family, Jojo. Please, just give me another chance.”
By the time he was finished, I didn’t know when I screamed at the top of my voice as tears ran down my eyes.
“I love you too! I have loved you for a very long time.” I cried out. He pulled me close to him and engulfed me into his tight embrace.
I wept like a hungry baby on his chest as I kept my arms around his waist. All that I had wanted to hear all my life, he had said. I had never thought this day would come, when I would be happy with the man that I loved.
“Is it okay if I ask you to marry me now? I mean, I didn’t bring a ring here, but I could always…”
“Shut up and kiss me, alpha Lake.” I cut in as I looked up at him.
He didn’t need a second request, he pressed his lips down on mine and sealed it with a soft kiss. I smiled against his lips and whispered softly.
“Yes. Yes I’ll marry you.”